Posted by NativeSon on July 9, 2008 at 4:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Another mental moron! I bet we tax payers have to foot his bill.

Why hasen't SC drafted and passed a law requiring helmets on all drivers of motercycles?

Posted by Tammie on July 9, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Very poor judgment on his part. Hope he makes a speedy recovery though.

Posted by ms_lady2u on July 9, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just being a show-off, I do wish a speedy recovery!!

Posted by georgebushsux on July 9, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Early.... spell motorcycle this way! Oh course us taxpayers will have to pay because this kids insurance company is going to say NO!

SCnative....the whole reason why Gov mark will sign this bill is to "thin the herd" alittle more. As gas prices continue to rise, people will look to the motorcycle to get around which in turn will see a growing number of more accidents.

8....he's probably was a B.W.C.F.R. to begin with..."bless his heart".

Posted by ironhorse on July 9, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This youngster's prank has nothing to do with mature, responsible riders. We do not need helmet laws.

Posted by majorjohnson on July 9, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The bill doesn't allow motorcycles to "run" red lights. Many red lights are weight activated, and a motorcycle isn't enough weight to do the trick. The bill means that after stopping and observing, if there is NO traffic to set the light off a motorcycle can proceed instead of being stuck at the light until a car comes along to trigger the light. I rode motorcycles for over 20 years, and it's pretty frustrating to pull up in the center or left turn lane and sit there with no traffic anywhere and the light won't change. And for you morons who say just turn right on red, from the center or left lane that's illegal too, not to mention that if you keep turning right you end up driving in circles.

As far as helmets go, this dope was doing something stupid, immature and irresponsible. What makes you think he would have put a helmet on just because the law said to?

Posted by drp7773 on July 9, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Now we know where that box of chocolates went....Lt. Dannnnnnnnnnnnnn,

Posted by berthelot on July 9, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is Harpo now known as majorjohnson? I have been wondering whatever happened to Harpo - he loved to comment on motorcycle related articles.

I don't know, the image of Harpo Marx with the curly hair and top hat is just more pleasant than that of major johnson - if that is the case. Anyhoo

Posted by shoelaces on July 9, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

8theistic:

Given his actions I am willing to bet this kid already had questionable brain function to start with.

Maybe he learned his lesson. Speedy recovery....then wear a helmet.

Posted by lou9 on July 9, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Coldbeer - you hit the nail on the head. The dangerous riders like this kid that got hurt will not even stop at a red light. And when they kill someone or get killed their family will probably sue the state for not protecting their dumb a**.
Major - If you ride in Goose Creek it doesn't matter if you are on a bike or in a tank, if you are trying to turn onto Hwy. 52 or Hwy. 176 and are at a red light you are going to sit there for three minutes waiting on it to change. The traffic engineer who set up those lights is too stupid to know how to use the road sensors to trip the lights. I've seen this several other places in the tri-county area also.

Posted by majorjohnson on July 9, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So what is a motorcycle supposed to do? Carry a tent and camp out when they hit a light at 4 in the morning and it won't change to green? The bill doesn't allow anyone to just run right through a light, and it leaves the biker responsible for running a red light if they do so unsafely. It doesn't allow someone to stop at a red light and then race through traffic. It's no more unsafe than the right on red law.

And no, I'm quite obviously not harpo if you ever read either of our posts. He always goes on about mandating seat belt use, I think that since the majority of accidents in this state are caused when a driver just drives off the road into a tree or overcorrects an hits an oncoming car that making people learn to drive would save more of us than seat belt usage ever will.

Posted by megaward on July 9, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Idiot got what he deserved.

Posted by FF on July 9, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Once again this paper has failed to report all the relevant facts:

Did Mr Pressley have a motorcycle license?

Was Mr Pressley riding a borrowed motorcycle?

Was Mr Pressley showing off or did he wheelie due to lack of experience and control?

PS - To all the Anti-Motorcyclist Bigots wining about medical expenses: Smokers and others making poor lifestyle choices are costing tax payers far more in health care expenses that the small number of motorcyclists injured annually. Learn more about the Red Light Bill at the source -> http://www.abatesc.com/

Posted by shoelaces on July 9, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am not anti -motorcyele. If people want to ride without a helmet and get hurt due to that choice then that's their fault. Just like if I don't buckle up and get hurt because of it it's my fault but it was my choice. Of course the seat belt is a law.

If the kid was showing off then he probably got what he deserved...sorry if that is harsh but it's true.

".....he hit a parked utility truck and a large garbage bin" How much do you want to bet whatever utility this was will be sued by this kid or his family?????

Posted by switang on July 9, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I've been riding for a couple years now and have done some stupid things. Lucky, I've been able to avoid accidents. If you are lucky you get to learn from those mistakes.

I've hit a few large insects at high speeds with the helmet...I think I'll keep it on ;)

On public roads -> be respectful.

Posted by berthelot on July 9, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

majorjohnson,

Just checking, he seems to have disappeared of late and I miss reading his posts.

Posted by Rebel_Yell on July 9, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope he recovers well. We need more people who are not afraid to pop a wheelie now and then. and I love it when the poorest complain that their tax dollars will go to his healthcare when their lifetime tax dollars couldn't afford to build a dirt road. Get a life--live and let die soccer mom.

Posted by idguy on July 9, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bwahahahahahahaha!